But here, I’d like to add one more. Call it the 102nd Thing: The Peoria Spirit.

What is that? It’s feisty, it’s gritty, it’s steadfast.

What is it not? Flashy, trendy or flighty.

Granted, that’s not a comprehensive definition. The framing is wide, kind of like the criteria for 101 Things — which from the outset sought to describe the uniqueness of Peoria as a sum of its distinctive parts.

What does that have to do with the Peoria Spirit? Many of you were kind enough to share suggestions, some of which didn’t make the final list. Some weren’t things, some were obscure, some just didn’t fit.

Usually, readers don’t like to hear “no” from their newspaper. I understand that, because it often happens to me.

But with readers, even if the answer is valid and polite, they won’t accept a “no, thank you.” Usually, they rant that I’m unfair and that I’m a stupid doody-head. Or something like that.

Yet with 101 Things, the responses were taken as challenges. Readers almost always said, “Oh, I get where you’re coming from. Then how about this suggestion? Or maybe do you know about this thing?”

It was weird, as if we were all adults — even, shockingly, me — and working together on something. Granted, it’s not as if 101 Things will cure diseases or end poverty. Still, the project was remarkable for the positive vibe. Reader or writer, it’s nice to partake in something like that.

Times like those, I started thinking of the Peoria Spirit. This town isn’t perfect, but I see brokenness as endearing. Still, some locals demean Peoria for not being trendy and polished enough to suit their tastes. These are likely the type of insufferable, yammering posers willing to shell out tall cash for a purebred, unblemished hound that sits still and quiet all day. I prefer a snarling, mottled mutt with bad breath and a lazy eye — harder to love, perhaps, but less maintenance and more character.

Peoria oozes character, bad and good — and that’s part of the Peoria Spirit. Hereabouts, despite plenty of individual difference, we tend to share one trait: compassion. I’ve lived on both coasts and a few burgs in between, yet I’ve never seen a place with more charities and fundraisers, from national efforts to spaghetti dinners.

Peoria — a tough town with a soft heart — is generous with money and time, yet without doing a lot of bragging. That’s something to be proud of.

And I hope you’re proud of 101 Things. It involved a lot of hard work at 1 News Plaza. Teressa Hargrove put the photos together, while Matt Dayhoff handled videos. In both cases, they usually had nothing to use but my lackluster camera work, which they had to transform into something decent. Meanwhile, the project leaned on efforts from writers Steve Tarter, Chris Kaergard, Kirk Wessler and Pam Adams, plus photographers David Zalaznik and Ron Johnson. Thanks to all.

And I offer my thanks to a community of helpers. In return, we’ll honor your repeated requests for a 101 encore.

On June 14, the Journal Star will publish a 101 Things special edition, spotlighting some entries and listing the rest.

If that’s not enough, in a few months we’ll release a book featuring each and every entry, similar to how they appears in the newspaper each day.

If your bookshelf isn’t too highfalutin’, maybe you can find room for a collection that celebrates the likes of Vanna Whitewall, Asian carp, Tiger sauce, deep-fried tenderloins and a giant clown head — a mix made possible only amid the Peoria Spirit.

1 Comment

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